Pastel Portraits & Custom Pastel Art

Pastel sits between drawing and painting: pure pigment laid down as sticks, blended by hand into soft, glowing color without the gloss of oils. First check which kind the artist uses. Soft (chalk) pastel is matte and velvety with feathered edges, beautiful for skin tones, flowers, and pet fur; oil pastel is denser and more saturated, with visible buttery strokes. Both go on toned or sanded paper (Canson Mi-Teintes, Pastelmat) or sandpaper-style board. Ask how the piece is protected — light fixative plus glassine over the surface — because raw pastel is powdery and smudges, so it should travel flat and be framed under glass with a mat to keep pigment off the glass. Common sizes run 8x10, 9x12, and 11x14. A single-subject pastel portrait usually costs $90-$300, with extra people, pets, or detailed backgrounds adding $30-$80. Most originals take 1-3 weeks since the artist works after you order.

Use the subject, size, and price filters and the related searches below to narrow to pet, child, or floral pastel work fast.